Comparison shopping for West Allis auto insurance is difficult for consumers new to shopping for insurance online. You have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become a big hassle to find lower rates in West Allis.
Are you getting all your discounts?
Insurance can be prohibitively expensive, but you may find discounts that you may not even be aware of. Larger premium reductions will be automatically applied when you quote, but less common discounts must be specially asked for in order for you to get them.
- Anti-lock Brake System – Cars that have steering control and anti-lock brakes prevent accidents and therefore earn up to a 10% discount.
- Save with a New Car – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper since new cars are generally safer.
- Sign Early and Save – Some companies give discounts for buying a policy prior to your current policy expiration. It can save you around 10%.
- Claim Free – Good drivers with no accidents pay less compared to accident-prone drivers.
- Fewer Miles Equal More Savings – Keeping the miles down can earn better rates on cars that stay parked.
- More Vehicles More Savings – Having multiple cars or trucks on one policy can get a discount on all vehicles.
- Organization Discounts – Being a member of certain professional organizations may earn a discount when shopping for auto insurance.
- Pay Now and Pay Less – By paying your policy upfront instead of making monthly payments you could save 5% or more.
As a disclaimer on discounts, most discounts do not apply to your bottom line cost. The majority will only reduce individual premiums such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when the math indicates you would end up receiving a 100% discount, you won’t be that lucky. Any amount of discount will reduce your overall premium however.
To see a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in West Allis, click this link.
Don’t assume everyone needs the same coverage
When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there is no perfect coverage plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s.
For example, these questions might point out whether your personal situation may require specific advice.
- Do I get a pro-rated refund if I cancel my policy early?
- Is my dog or cat covered if injured in an accident?
- Why am I required to buy high-risk coverage?
- What is the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage?
- Why is insurance for a teen driver so high in West Allis?
- Am I covered by my spouse’s policy after a separation?
If you can’t answer these questions but you think they might apply to your situation, you might consider talking to an agent. If you don’t have a local agent, fill out this quick form.
Online quotes with a local West Allis insurance agent
Some people would prefer to buy from a licensed agent. The best thing about getting online price quotes is you may find lower rates and still choose a local agent. And providing support for local agencies is important particularly in West Allis.
Once you complete this short form, the coverage information is emailed to local insurance agents in West Allis who will compete for your coverage. You don’t have to leave your house since price quotes are sent directly to your email. You can find better rates AND an agent nearby.
How to choose the best insurance agency in West Allis
When looking for a reliable agent, you need to know there are two types of agencies to choose from. Insurance agencies in West Allis are either captive or independent (non-captive).
Independent Agencies or Brokers
Independent agents are not locked into one company but rather can write business with multiple insurance companies and potentially find a lower price. To transfer your coverage to a different company, an independent agent can move your coverage without you having to go to a different agency. When searching for an agent, it’s recommended you contact at a minimum one independent agency to have the most options to choose from. They often place coverage with smaller regional carriers which can save you money.
Shown below is a short list of independent agencies in West Allis that may be able to provide rate quotes.
- Federated Insurance Co – 9733 W Greenfield Ave – West Allis, WI 53214 – (414) 476-9006
- Doersching Insurance Svc – 8001 W Lincoln Ave – West Allis, WI 53219 – (414) 327-5600
Captive Insurance Agents
Captive agencies write business for a single company like American Family, State Farm and Allstate. They usually cannot compare other company’s rates so always compare other rates. They receive extensive training on their products and sales techniques and that can be a competitive advantage. Consumers often choose to use a captive agent partially due to the prominence of the brand and strong financial ratings.
Below is a list of captive insurance agencies in West Allis willing to provide comparison quotes.
- American Family Insurance – 2077 S 71st St – West Allis, WI 53219 – (414) 543-9345
- Farmers Insurance Group – 11204 W Greenfield Ave – West Allis, WI 53214 – (414) 771-1380
For a full directory of captive insurance agents in West Allis, please go to this site.
Choosing an insurance agency should depend on more than just a cheap price. Any agent should be forthright in answering these questions:
- If your car is in the repair shop, do you have coverage for a rental car?
- Do clients work directly with the agent or are most inquiries handled by a CSR?
- Are they properly licensed to sell insurance in Wisconsin?
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Will your rates increase after a single accident?
- Do they carry Errors and Omissions coverage?
- Are claim adjusters local or do you have to take your car somewhere else?
Upon receiving good answers to all your questions and locked in a price quote, you have narrowed it down to an insurance agency that will service your policy. But remember, you can always terminate coverage any time you want so don’t feel that you’re stuck with a specific agent with no way to switch.
Are auto insurance companies telling the truth?
Auto insurance providers like Allstate, Geico and Progressive continually stream television and radio advertisements. They all have a common claim that you’ll save big after switching to them. How do they all say the same thing?
Different companies have a preferred profile for the type of driver that earns them a profit. For example, a profitable customer could be over the age of 40, a clean driving record, and drives less than 10,000 miles a year. Any driver who meets those qualifications will qualify for the lowest rates and most likely will cut their rates substantially.
Potential customers who don’t measure up to the “perfect” profile will be charged more money which usually ends up with the customer not buying. The ads say “customers who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much money. This is how companies can make those claims.
That is why it is so important to get quotes from several different companies. It’s impossible to know which auto insurance company will have the lowest rates.
Much more information about auto insurance in Wisconsin is available on the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance website through this link. Visitors are able to read industry bulletins, file complaints about a company, find a variety of consumer forms, and learn about specific coverages.
Specific coverages
Understanding the coverages of your policy can help you determine the right coverages and the correct deductibles and limits. The terms used in a policy can be impossible to understand and coverage can change by endorsement.
Comprehensive protection
This will pay to fix damage OTHER than collision with another vehicle or object. You first must pay your deductible and the remainder of the damage will be paid by comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against claims such as damage from getting keyed, theft, rock chips in glass and hail damage. The highest amount you’ll receive from a claim is the ACV or actual cash value, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s not worth carrying full coverage.
Medical expense coverage
Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection insurance kick in for expenses for funeral costs, pain medications, rehabilitation expenses and X-ray expenses. The coverages can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance policy or if there is no health insurance coverage. Coverage applies to you and your occupants in addition to any family member struck as a pedestrian. PIP coverage is not an option in every state but can be used in place of medical payments coverage
Auto liability insurance
This coverage provides protection from damages or injuries you inflict on people or other property by causing an accident. Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You commonly see values of 50/100/50 that translate to $50,000 bodily injury coverage, a limit of $100,000 in injury protection per accident, and $50,000 of coverage for damaged propery. Another option is a combined single limit or CSL which limits claims to one amount without having the split limit caps.
Liability can pay for things such as medical expenses, court costs, emergency aid, legal defense fees and pain and suffering. How much coverage you buy is a personal decision, but consider buying as much as you can afford. Wisconsin state minimum liability requirements are 50,000/100,000/55,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.
Auto collision coverage
This will pay to fix damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or an object, but not an animal. You first must pay a deductible and then insurance will cover the remainder.
Collision coverage protects against claims like rolling your car, crashing into a ditch and hitting a parking meter. Paying for collision coverage can be pricey, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. Drivers also have the option to choose a higher deductible to get cheaper collision coverage.
Uninsured or underinsured coverage
This coverage gives you protection from other drivers when they do not carry enough liability coverage. Covered losses include injuries sustained by your vehicle’s occupants as well as damage to your vehicle.
Since a lot of drivers only purchase the least amount of liability that is required (Wisconsin limits are 50/100/55), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. For this reason, having high UM/UIM coverages is important protection for you and your family. Normally these coverages are set the same as your liablity limits.
Do the work, save more money
You just read quite a bit of information on how to shop for auto insurance online. The most important thing to understand is the more times you quote, the higher the chance of saving money. Consumers could even find that the biggest savings come from the smaller companies.
While you’re price shopping online, you should never buy lower coverage limits just to save a few bucks. There are many occasions where an insured dropped physical damage coverage and found out when filing a claim they didn’t have enough coverage. Your goal should be to find the BEST coverage for the lowest price while still protecting your assets.
Consumers switch companies for any number of reasons including poor customer service, policy non-renewal, extreme rates for teen drivers or even questionable increases in premium. No matter why you want to switch, choosing a new company can be less work than you think.